Hastings fans show Gutierrez the love

They were lined up on the grounds of Hastings Race-course as early as 8: 30 a.m. Sunday, all waiting for the chance to meet Mario Gutierrez, the winning jockey of the 2012 Kentucky Derby.

Hundreds of horse racing fans from Vancouver and the furthest reaches of the Lower Mainland descended on Hastings Racecourse to meet the 25-year-old jockey, who competed at the local track for six years, before achieving inter-national fame with his May 5 victory at the historic Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Gutierrez, aboard Reddam Racing's I'll Have Another, managed to track down and beat 4-1 favourite Bodemeister at the wire to take the 138th Derby in front of a record crowd of 165,307 spectators.

"I followed Mario the years that he was here and I think it's terribly exciting," said Robert Henderson, who drove from Chilliwack to Vancouver to pass along his personal congratulations to Gutierrez, while donning a button on his white blazer that read "Go Mario Go."

"This is just magic, really. I was watching [the Kentucky Derby], believe me. It was great. I've replayed it so many times ... It's very thrilling that we have somebody from Vancouver to go on and do very well in this day."

Maria Godart was also among those lined up to see Gutierrez. She has seen him on many occasions at Hastings Race-course, where he was the top rider in 2007 and 2008, and was among the top three riders in each of the six years he competed in Vancouver, from 2006 to 2011.

"We've been coming to the track and involved in the [horse ownership] syndicate probably the past eight or nine years, so we've watched Mario race here," said Godart.

"It's truly exciting for every-body. I was right here watching it with my husband and a couple of friends, and just shock. I don't really know why.

"He's certainly a capable jockey and it shouldn't have been this surprising. But it's the Kentucky Derby and there's a lot of horses, so it was great."

Not far from the lineup was a table with a plastic banner laid out for people to write personal messages for the jockey.

"Mario! Vancity [so] proud of you! Good luck in the Preakness with IHA [I'll Have Another]! We're routing for you!" one message read.

Gutierrez arrived at Hastings Racecourse around 11: 30 a.m., clad in a purple shirt, dark grey vest and sunglasses atop his head, before a press conference with reporters inside the Casino Eclipse Lounge.

Despite being overwhelmed with media requests since his victory, Gutierrez answered questions for almost 25 minutes.

"I came here in 2006, being 19 years old and Vancouver and Hastings ... gave me a lot of opportunities," said Gutierrez, who stood at the podium, while horse owner Glen Todd - Gutierrez's mentor in Vancouver - and Hastings Race-course general manager Raj Mutti sat nearby.

"I came from a small family in Mexico, so being here and all the support from the trainers and owners, I can finally have the opportunity to give my family, like a better living. I owe Vancouver and I feel like home here."

Gutierrez originally hails from the small farming town of Veracruz, Mexico. He was recruited from a racetrack in Mexico City and brought north to Vancouver. It was in this part of the world where he excelled.

Todd, who took Gutierrez into his White Rock home when he first arrived here, fought to hold back tears when talking to reporters on Sunday.

Todd said he believed in Gutierrez "from Day 1" and that the jockey was "like an adopted" son.

"Well, I think he's the hottest thing since sliced bread right now, not only for our sport but for the city of Vancouver," said Todd. "I've told him since the first day I met him, he's gifted. He's gifted."

Asked if he could express how proud he is of Gutierrez, Todd said: "If I do, I'll get emotional."

Ditto for Gutierrez, when asked about what Todd means to him.

"He keeps pointing me in the right direction, and probably, if I didn't stay with him, I probably wouldn't be here talking to you," said Gutierrez.

The feeling of accomplishment for Gutierrez is still raw. After a few days of resting and relaxing with friends and family in Vancouver, Gutierrez will be off to Baltimore, Md., for the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, the second leg of thoroughbred horse racing's Triple Crown.

I'll Have Another is already at Pimlico. The two will be reunited in just a few days, no longer the underdogs like they were - at 15-1 odds - for the Kentucky Derby.

"I feel 100 per cent confident," said Gutierrez, who later added he wasn't nervous waiting in the gate at the Derby.

"The horse is really nice. He's a super horse.

"He's so professional, he loves what he does. I have no doubt the horse is going to do so good and we'll see what happens on Saturday.

"I can only speak from this year. That's when I finally met him, a couple of months ago. Since the first time I rode him, I just knew he was special, it was like something - I don't know how to describe it - but I knew he was something special."

ctucker@vancouversun.com Twitter.com/camtuckersun

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Hastings fans show Gutierrez the love

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